Ran out of Gas?

[ampalm]

I drive about 180+ miles daily, With the gas prices as they are I starting riding my bikes. Drove mine the couple couple of days but it needs a new back tire. So I jumped on my wives '96 GS500E which I get her this summer and have put only a couple hundred miles on it. So this was it first really trip. Started out great until it started actig like it was running out of gas. Turn the petcock to RES, Samething. Turned to prime cleared up. I know I only had about 140 miles on this tank of gas, and knew it should get about 250 miles to the tanks. About 10 minutes later she dies on 75 north at 6am. Walked it about a mile to the exit. Open the Tank and to my surprise it had about Half a tank. Put in 2.7 gallons and it started. So now about every 100 miles I stop and put about 2 gallons. Today I Checked all the hoses and took the petcock apart, It was leaking just alittle fuel at the knob you turn. Put in a new O ring and it's still leaking. Is there a petcock upgrade out there. Please help. Tired of paying for gas, and that GS500 gets great gas mileage.  By the way I drive 90 miles one way in the morning and again at night. All highway and average 80 mph. and the bike does a great job.

[Phaedrus]

Started out great until it started actig like it was running out of gas. Turn the petcock to RES, Samething. Turned to prime cleared up. I know I only had about 140 miles on this tank of gas, and knew it should get about 250 miles to the tanks..

I am a noob and know a little about a little But I think the older GS's do run out of fuel around where you are having your problems. The newer GS's, like my "F", have a little bit larger tank and do get about 240 miles to the tank. I might be wrong, but I still think you could be running out of gas.. :dunno:  I'd run some fuel cleaner through it too just for giggles..but I'd check the tank capacity...

[Thor S Magic Bathtub]

Yeah, I don't know how you could have a half tank after 140 miles on a '96. I have a '96 and I go about 120 miles till I have to switch to reserve. The E has a smaller tank than the F. Even smaller if you have a California model, which is what I have.

[ampalm]

The spec's for this bike say 5.3 gallons. and I'm only burning 2.5 gallons. Do the math. The bike averages over 50 miles per gallon. I should get at least 250 miles to a tank of gas. What good is it to have a nice big tank if you can't use all the fuel. I think I'll drain the tank tomorrow and full up a 5 gallon tank, and see if it takes all of it. I'll let you guys know later. Thanks.

[davipu]

the 89-2000's had a smaller tank. the 01,02's have the same tank as the 04/05's

[Mk1inCali]

I get about 150 miles out of my '00 (same exact tank as yours) before I have to switch to reserve.

Are you at 120 when you need RES or when you run completely out?

If you are flogging it, you might not be getting as great of mileage as you think you should.

[roguegeek]

Any time a post pops up on gas mileage, I always make it a point to read it. I have no idea how you guys get so many damn miles out of your bikes. I get the first sputter on my 1997 GS around 105 miles when I need to switch to reserve. I have no idea how much further it will go from there (always get gas right away), but I'm pretty sure it wont get another 100 miles, let alone a total of 240 miles that everyone here seems to report.

If there's one thing I've been disappointed with on the GS, it's the gas mileage I've been getting.

[davipu]

rougegeek, howmany gallons are you putting in when you fill it?

[Mk1inCali]

I could see where you weren't getting as many miles out of the tank, but your mileage should be similar.  I've got 140 mains, and I ride pretty darn hard and still get nothing lower than 140 if I fill it up by splashing the gas in the filler neck down into the tank.

If you just fill it to the bottom of the neck you are missing out on a lot of range.

[ampalm]

I drove it two more days after I "ran out of gas"  and each 90+ mile trip I did I would go to the gas station to full up, and it would take no more than 2 gallons. Which is damn near 50 to the gallon. This is a completely stock bike. No rejetting, no pipe, No k&n filter. Damn Thinking about going to the gas tonight, and draining it right now!!!!!!

[roguegeek]

It would probably be better if I told you how many mpg I'm getting. Every time I fill up, I try to fill it up to the exact spot all the time. I fill up right to where it starts to bubble and don't continue. I've gone beyond that a couple of times but it seemed like I could fill it up forever and there was no way to gauge an exact spot to fill up every time. Anyway, that's a separate issue I have. I've been getting an average of 36 mpg. Seems low to me. I've been wondering if maybe the previous owner did a rejet on the thing. I have no idea if he did or how I would find out. Thoughts?

[davipu]

ride it down here and I'll tear it apart and tell you.

[Mk1inCali]

Ampalm, I almost guarantee that the hose routing is messed up in that case.

Roguegeek, 36 is way low for a mainly stock bike, even Daniely's bike with full rejet, full exhaust and K&N pods got 45+ and we would go to the coast or up into the mtns and tear ass for a whole tank.  You'd have to pull the carbs apart and dig in there to get to the jets to see if it's been messed with.

Are you happy with the performance/ever ridden with other GSesses to see how it runs up against another?

[roguegeek]

hehe I would love to. Probably wouldn't be a bad idea, though, if I check for myself.?

36 mpg does seem low, though, right?

[roguegeek]

Are you happy with the performance/ever ridden with other GSesses to see how it runs up against another?

Never ridden another one to know.

[ampalm]

OK, guys I'm bored and the kids are asleep. Give my an hour and I'll drain the tank and go to the gas station and full a 5 gallon tank. Then refull the GS's tank to see if it will take it all. Be back in an hour.

[davipu]

well if you were super cool and had Y-im I might say something.

[roguegeek]

well if you were super cool and had Y-im I might say something.

:lol: Maybe I'm just not super lame for having AIM.

[Mk1inCali]

Rogue, if you aren't scared of tearing into it, you could start pulling the bike apart and see what you've got.

If Dave can adjust valves right, anybody can check carb parts...

Just kidding Dave...

[davipu]

yeah you are. I just wasn't going to say anything.